Lent: 3/21/09
March 21, 2009
Genesis 47:27-48:7
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Mark 7:1-23
“Defilement”
Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” – Mark 7:14-15 (NRSV)
Watching television this week it became even more obvious to me than ever that we are living in a victim based society. All of our ethics and thought are based on an economy of oppression. No one it seems is responsible for anything, while everyone else is somehow to blame.
The recent world economic crisis is blamed on corporate greed. Corporate greed is based on poor governmental policies and oversight. Poor governmental policies and oversight are blamed on unfair trade practices. Unfair trade practices are blamed on colonialism. And so on and so forth ad nauseam.
When someone goes nuts and starts shooting up a neighborhood or school, it is never their fault is it? It is always a case of poor parenting or bullying or lack of opportunity. Ultimately, it is the community and the wider society who let these poor deranged psychopaths down. They are the real tragic heroes of the story after all.
All of us have been wronged! You may be entitled to receive cash compensation for your suffering! There is no blame for pregnant teens, drug addicts, terrorist, child abusers, wife beaters, or white-collar criminals. Their actions are always somebody else’s fault. When we cannot find any other place to shift blame, there is always the old favorite, “the devil made me do it” defense. As individuals we are all guiltless, shame free victims with clean hands. But why is the world so messed up if everybody is okay? How can there be so many oppressed people with no oppressors?
One of the most theologically astute bumper stickers that I have ever seen was the classic, “Stuff happens!” Sure things go wrong in our lives, but we have to clean up the mess and move on. Accidents will happen, but that does not give us permission to be sloppy and negligent. Neither are we entitled to sit and whine about every little thing that does not go our way.
We cannot always control what happens around us, but we can take responsibility for our own actions. We are more than eternally helpless infants. We are active responsible moral agents. We are stronger and more resilient than we act most of the time.
Today we consider our responsibilities as human beings, disciples of Jesus Christ, and children of God. Take ownership of your life. Take control of your body, finances, words, actions and attitudes. Become willing to make mistakes and own them and learn from them. Defilement is a part of life, but God provides us a way to avoid most of life’s messes and has even made a way for us to become clean again should we fail. Live boldly. Live justly. Live responsibly.
Let us pray…
God help us:
When we feel sorry for ourselves,
and blame others for our mistakes.
God convict us:
When we fail to take responsibility of ourselves,
and try to place the blame on You.
God comfort us:
When we feel so overwhelmed and disheartened,
that we give up and wait for a bailout.
God forgive us:
When we confess our shortcomings,
and seek to live as you have taught us. Amen